Van huis

ABSTRACT

A FEED SAVER APPARATUS FOR RETURNING UNUSED FEED TO A HOPPER, THE APPARATUS FEATURING A CYLINDRICAL COMPACTING ELEMENT LOCATED AT LEAST PARTIALLY WITHIN A FEED HOPPER AND AT A PREDETERMINED HEIGHT ABOVE THE LEVEL OF INCOMING UNUSED FEED, MEANS SUCH AS THE FEED CHAIN FOR DRIVING THE COMPACTING ELEMENT IN A ROTARY MANNER SO AS TO COMPACT RETURNING UNUSED FEED WHICH IS AT A HEIGHT ABOVE THE PREDETERMINED HEIGHT OF THE COMPACTING ELEMENT. MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR MOVING THE COMPACTED RETURNING FEED UPWARD INTO THE HOPPER AND FOR EFFECTIVELY SHIELDING   THE UPPER AND REAR PORTIONS OF THE COMPACTING ELEMENT SO AS TO PREVENT FEED IN THE HOPPER FROM RETURNING TO THE TROUGH UPSTREAM FROM THE HOPPER.

1971 R. L. VAN HUIS FEED SAVER FOR AUTOMATIC FEED APPARATUS OriginalFiled Jan. 18, 1965 INVENTUR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patcnt O 27,035 FEED SAVER FOR AUTOMATIC FEEDAPPARATUS Robert L. Van Huis, Zeeland, Mich., assignor, by mesneassignments, to US. Industries, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation ofDelaware Original No. 3,272,400, dated Sept. 13, 1966, Ser. No. 426,154,Jan. 18, 1965. Application for reissue Aug. 13, 1968, Ser. No. 768,205

Int. Cl. B65g 47/18 US. Cl. 222318 16 Claims Matter enclosed in heavybrackets appears in the original patent hut forms no part of thisreissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additionsmade by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A feed saver apparatus for returning unusedfeed to a hopper, the apparatus featuring a cylindrical compactingelement located at least partially within a feed hopper and at apredetermined height above the level of incoming unused feed, means suchas the feed chain for driving the compacting element in a rotary mannerso as to compact returning unused feed which is at a height above thepredetermined height of the compacting element. Means are provided formoving the compacted returning feed upward into the hopper and forefiectively shielding the upper and rear portions of the compactingelement so as to prevent feed in the hopper from returning to the troughupstream from the hopper.

This invention relates to automatically operated feeding equipment, andmore particularly to a new and unique hopper apparatus by whichunconsumed still feed in the trough of the feeder when it re-enters thehopper may be reintroduced back into the hopper and mixed with the feedalready there, in an efficient and expeditious manner which prevents thespilling and wasting of such feed.

As is well known, in the automatic feeding of poultry or other animals,one or more feeding troughs having conveying means of various typeswithin the trough are used to continuously supply feed from a supplyhopper throughout the length of the trough. The conveyor means typicallymoves at a very slow rate, and the birds or ani mals consume the feed asit is slowly moved past them in the trough. The total quantity of feedwhich a given group of birds may eat in any given time will naturallyvary from the amount eaten by the same group in other like periods oftime, depending upon many different factors. As a result, the conveyingapparatus at times returns to the hopper with very little or no feedremaining, while at other times it returns with a great deal of feed.

The latter instance has always created a problem. The continuoussuccessful operation of such an automatic system depends upon thepresence within the hopper of a large supply of bulk feed whichconstantly settles to the bottom of the hopper, toward the point wherethe conveyor passes through it, to continuously load the conveyor sothat it may always leave the hopper with a fresh supply of feed.Consequently, feed remaining on the conveyor as it re-enters the hopperat its inlet is met by the mass of feed present in the hopper. Thiscauses the feed remaining in the conveyor to pile up at the inlet to thehopper and, since the conveyor operates practically continuously, thefeed attempting to re-enter the hopper soon begins to spill out of thetrough, and it is wasted. This represents a very real and appreciableloss to the operator.

Several devices have been suggested for overcoming this problem. It wasan early conventional practice to completely remove from the conveyortrough whatever See feed was returned to the hopper, as by forming anopening in the bottom of the trough at a point just before the conveyorre-enters the hopper. This feed was elevated by a separate means, whichthen discharged it back into the top of the hopper. This system worksquite satisfactorily and is used to some extent today, but it involvesconsiderable additional equipment and materially increases the expenseof the system. A later device was that suggested by Graetz in his US.Patent No. 2,589,690, which was said to control the amount of feedleaving the hopper outlet at a predetermined desired level while alsopreventing feed from backing up at the hopper inlet. However, it is theexperience of the present inventor that this system contained aseemingly inherent tendency to consistently jam, thereby causing aproblem of greater aggravation than the original problem.

A more recent and more successful solution to the problem is shown in apatent issued to M. L. Smalegan, No. 2,866,536, and assigned to theassignee of the present invention. This device consists of certain feedreturn gates which compress the feed as it enters the hopper. This actto positively prevent both the compressed feed and the loose bulk feedin the hopper form backing up within the hopper inlet. Although thisdevice was quite successful and is used extensively at the present time,it has certain limitations, such as for example the fact that thecompressed feed is not broken up and re-mixcd with the bulk feed in thehopper after having been compressed by the gates.

The present invention provides as its major objective a unique newmechanism for resolving the stated problems in a new and unique manner.It greatly facilitates the re-entry of feed from the conveyor troughinto the hopper by positively assisting the motion of the feed, therebypreventing both the piling-up of feed as well as the backing-up thereofwithin the conveyor trough at the hopper inlet. The inventive devicefurther serves to agitate the feed re-entering the hopper with thesupply of bulk feed already in the hopper, thereby in some cases helpingto maintain a thoroughly mixed feed. The new apparatus is, in addition,strong and durable in operation and very dependable mechanically.

The foregoing important objectives and advantages of the presentinvention, together with other equally desirable features pertainingthereto, will become increasingly apparent by those acquainted with thedesign and use of automatic poultry feeding equipment upon considerationof the following specification and its appended claims, when taken inconjunction with the accompanying illustrative drawings setting forth apreferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, generally central sectional view of a hopperhaving the novel feed saver installed therein; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing other details of theapparatus of FIG. 1.

Briefly stated, the present invention provides a new hopper structurefor use in automatic feeding equipment, or more precisely, a new andunique structure for use in the supply hoppers of automatic feedingequipment to facilitate the re-entry of unconsumed feed back into thehopper from the returning conveyor mechanism of the automatic feedingequipment. Basically, this structure includes a. cylindrical compactingelement which is rotatably mounted immediately within the hopper inlet.The hopper itself is of the type having oppositely-disposed walls whichconverge toward each other at the bottom of the hopper to accommodatethe passage therebctween of the conveyor means. The compacting elementmounts normal to these walls and transversely across the moving memberof the conveyor, which is preferably of the wellknown chain variety. Thecompacting element has a centrally-disposed sprocket means, whoseradially-extending teeth engage the moving links of the conveyor chain.This rotates the sprocket and the attached compacting element together,in unison with the chain. As the sprocket and compactor rotate around,toward their lowermost position and the conveyor chain, the compactingelement contacts meets and compacts feed returning to the hopper. Whenthe sprocket passes its bottom position and again starts upward aboutits axis of ro tation, it moves the compacted quantity of feed upwardinto the mass of bulk feed already in the hopper, agitating the feed andmixing it together.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings the lower portion of theupstream end of the feed supply hopper is shown in FIG. 1, as defined bythe upstream end wall 12 and the bottom 14 of the hopper. The feedertrough is shown at 16 in this figure where it returns to the inlet 18 ofthe hopper, which is formed in the end wall 12. As the drawingsillustrate, the feeder trough 16 contains a conveyor mechanism, and thisis preferably of the flat chain variety, shown at 20.

The hopper 10 is more clearly shown in FIG. 2, where it is seen that thehopper is basically an enclosure having oppositely-disposed sides 22 and24 which converge toward each other from top to bottom to form agenerally flat horizontal portion 26 at the bottom of the hopper whichaccommodates the conveyor chain by guiding it between the convergingwalls. The upstream end 12 of the hopper is shown, in which the inlet isformed, and it is to be understood that a similar downstream end (notshown) is also provided (having an outlet, also not shown) to completethe hopper enclosure. FIG. 2 further illustrates the nature and theposition of the feed-saving compacting and agitating structure 28 of thepresent invention.

The structure 28 includes a generally cylindrical compacting element 30,which is preferably a smooth metal drum. At each end of the element 30is positioned a flat circular, disk-like plate 32 and 34, respectively.For simplicity of manufacture, the element 30 and the two plates 32 and34 are preferably separate members which may be assembled into place bymeans of a concentric mounting aperture 36 which each component has atits axis of rotation. It is to be noted that the diameter of the twocircular plates 32 and 34 is greater than that of the cylindricalelement 30, and that together these three pieces form an annularchannel-shaped confining structure extending around their circumference.

The compacting structure 28 also includes a sprocket means 38 having aregular series of radially-extending teeth 40. The sprocket means 38 isattached to the cylindrical element 30 about its circumference,approximately at its longitudinal mid-point, in such a way that thesemembers are indexed together for simultaneous rotation.

The exact position in which the compacting structure 28 is mounted inthe hopper 10 is shown in FIG. 1. Here it is seen that the structure 28is mounted immediately inside the hopper inlet 18. The compactor 28 isrotatably mounted by its mounting aperture 36 upon suitable mountingposts 42 associated structurally with the hopper 10 in a desired manner.The exact nature of the mounting posts 42 is not critical, but thevertical position in which the structure 28 is mounted is important.This should be such that each of the teeth 40 of sprocket 38 will beengaged by one of the links in the moving conveyor chain 20, and thevertical position of the compacting structure should permit the sprocketto be rotated freely about its mount by the action of the conveyor chainagainst the teeth 40. The sprocket teeth should of course easily clearthe upper surface of the bottom 14 of the hopper, but the teeth shouldnonetheless pass close enough to the bottom so that there is no chancewhatever of the chain 20 moving past the compacting structure withoutengaging the extending teeth of the sprocket.

As now should be evident, the length of the cylindrical element 30previously described should be such as to position its two circular endplates 32 and 34 at either side of the conveyor chain 20, so that thesaid end plates flank the chain. As FIG. 1 illustrates, the edges of theend plates should, like the sprocket teeth 40, extend substantially tothe bottom 14 of the hopper, while the cylindrical surface of theelement 30 rides immediately above the chain 20 as the latter passesthereunder. With the end plates 32 and 34 flanking the sides of thechain in the preferred manner, the sprocket means 38 will be locatedcentrally of the chain 20, and each of its rotating teeth 40 will enterand engage each link in the chain near its center.

As is clearly seen in both FIGS. 1 and 2, an inclined plate 44 ispositioned across the upstream end of the hopper 10. The plate 44 isbasically triangular in shape, and one edge thereof attaches to the endwall 12 of the hopper at its upper extremity. From this point the plateinclines downward away from wall 12, in the direction of motion of theconveyor chain and toward the bottom of the hopper. In this position,the plate 44 is inclined over the top of the mounting posts 42 to coverboth the latter and the mounting aperture 36 and the associated axialmounting structure of the compacting structure 28, together with therear and bottom portions of the entire compacting structure 28 (see FIG.1). The front portion of the compacting structure (i.e., that portiondirected toward the downstream end of the hopper and its outlet opening)extends through a generally rectangular cut-away portion 46 in one sideof the plate 44, into the inside of the hopper, which contains thesupply of bulk feed 48. Other than this forward portion, the entireremainder of the compacting structure 28 is positioned below theinclined plate 44, in the vicinity of the hopper inlet 18.

Finally, a substantially rigid blade-like plate is attached to theinclined plate 44 immediately above its cutaway portion 46 andextending. into the latter. The blade 50 is aligned with the uppersurface of the cylindrical element 30 of the compacting structure, andis held in position with the end of the blade very near to but not quitetouching this surface. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the width of the blade50 extends substantially the entire distance between the two end plates32 and 34 of the compacting structure. The blade has a central openingformed therein which is just large enough to allow the sprocket teeth 40to pass through it as the sprocket and the remainder of the compactingstructure 28 are rotated by the conveyor chain. The blade 50 ispreferably formed from sheet metal stock which, as stated, issubstantially rigid, and the end extremity of the blade which is alignedwith the cylindrical surface of element 30 is preferably somewhatsharpened.

OPERATION Having fully described the structure of my invention, togetherwith the inter-relationships of its assembly, the operation of thedevice will now be outlined. With the feeder in operation, the conveyorchain 20 is driven endlessly around a closed loop of feeder trough 16 tocarry feed from the hopper 10 and distribute it throughout the trough.The quantity of feed which has not been eaten by the poultry after onecomplete cycle of the conveyor is returned to the chain 20 into theinlet 18 of the hopper. This feed must be reintroduced into the largemass of loose bulk feed 48 within the hopper and, if possible, agitatedand mixed with the latter at the same rate it is returned to the hopper.There should be no piling up and spillage of feed whatever at the inlet18, and neither should any of the feed 48 be allowed to work its wayback to the inlet so as to spill and be wasted. The present inventionaccomplishes these purposes as follows.

As the conveyor chain 20 moves from left to right in FIG. 1, each of itslinks engage one of the sprocket teeth 40. This causes the sprocket andthe entire compacting structure 28 to be steadily rotated in acounterclockwise direction. As this structure is so rotated, itscylindrical element 30 is steadily rolled into contact with the feedbeing carried by each particular link in the chain. Simultaneously, theend plates 32 and 34 move into flanking position at opposite sides ofthe chain. As the compacting structure and the chain continue theirsimultaneous movement, the surface of element 30 gradually and smoothlycompacts the feed confined in the space between it and the two endplates. Further, the particular sprocket tooth that is moving intoengagement with the conveyor chain is forced into the compacted feed inthat link of chain. This further compacts the feed.

As the chain and compacting structure continue to move, the rotation ofthe sprocket disengages its tooth from the link of chain. The feedsurrounding and compacted about the sprocket tooth remains in contactWith the tooth, and thus is removed fro mthe link of chain. Normally,this compacted feed is then drawn tangentially away from the compactingstructure and sprocket tooth into the mass of bulk feed 48 at this endof the hopper by the dragging effect of the feed against the sprockettooth and the cylinder. The continuous movement of theoutwardly-extending sprocket teeth through the bulk feed serves tosteadily agitate the feed in the adjacent vicinity, and this also helpsto remove the compacted feed from the rotating structure. Consequently,the feed which was first compacted is then broken up and thoroughlyintermixed with the other feed in the hopper.

At times, however, the re-entering feed is so thoroughly compacted thatit becomes firmly wedged into the channelshaped confining area on thecompacting structure. In order to remove it therefrom and prevent itfrom being carried completely around toward the inlet 18 of the hopper,where it would interfere with the operation of the device, the blade 50is provided. As has been stated, the blade preferably has a somewhatsharpened lower extremity and is closely aligned with the upper portionof the cylindrical surface 30. Thus, it will be apparent that the blade50 quickly and cleanly dislodges any compacted feed which does becomelodged or otherwise stuck to the surface of the compactor structure atthe point where it moves through the cut-away portion 46 of the inclinedplate 44.

As FIG. 1 shows, the level of feed 48 in the hopper is normally wellabove the top of the compactor 28. Consequently, the agitation of feednoted previously, due to the rotation of the entire structure 28, occursabove this structure also, and the feed dislodged by the blades 50 isbroken up and mixed with the bulk supply feed in a the hopper in thesame manner as feed moved or drawn away from the front of the compactorin the normal manner. In fact, the agitation of the bulk feed by themovement of the compactor is normally so brisk that even with the hoppercompleted filled, the top surface of the bulk feed will visibly move ina continuousboiling or stirring motion which testifies to the degree ofthoroughness with which the feed is being mixed.

It will be observed from the foregoing description of the operation ofthe device that practically all feed which is returned by the conveyorto the hopper is compacted, removed from the chain, and mixed with feedalready in the hopper. In performing in this manner, the rotatingcompacting structure 28 engages feed carried by the chain at its lowestpoint of rotation and moves this feed past the lower portion of theinclined plate 44 directly into the interior of the hopper. As thecompacting structure is rotated through the bulk feed in the hopper andpasses beyond the upper portion of the inclined plate 44, the action ofthe blade 50 positively assures the compactor of moving past the plate44 and toward the chain free of any residual feed. Further, since theinclined plate 44 acts to retain the supply of bulk feed 48 in thehopper, there is no way in which feed from the hopper can be formed orcan otherwise find its way back to the inlet 18 of the hopper.Consequently, the inlet area remains free of any piled feed, and thereis no backing up and spilling of feed therefrom.

It will thus be seen that the present invention completely andeffectively solves the problem to which it is addressed by means of adurable structure which requires no additional or extra motive power andwhich in fact produces an added desirable feature in continuouslyagitating the supply feed in the hopper. The structure of the compactingdevice is relatively simple to manufacture and assemble, has extremelylong life, and requires practically no maintenance.

While I have illustrated and described the embodiment of this inventionmost preferred by me, it will be understood that various modificationsand alterations in the structural details of the invention may beprovided without departing from the spirit of the invention and whilecontinuing to utilize the concept underlying it. Consequently, all suchalterations and modifications are to be considered a part of theinvention unless the claims appended below by their language expresslystate otherwise.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for returning feed back into the inlet of a bulk feedhopper from a trough in which a conveyor member travels to transfer feedfrom the hopper throughout the length of the trough, said apparatuscomprising: a cylindrical compacting element of substantially circularcross section; means for mounting said element within said hopper at itssaid inlet; said means mounting said element for rotation about itslongitudinal axis at a predetermined height above said conveyor member;means extending outwardly beyond the surface of said compacting elementfor engaging said traveling conveyor member and driving said element ina rotary manner; said element rolling against and compacting feed abovesaid predetermined height which is being returned to said hopper in saidtrough; said extending means moving the compacted feed upward into saidhopper as it rotates; and means effectively shielding the upper and rearportions of said compacting element and extending means to prevent feedin the hopper from returning to the said trough upstream of said hopperinlet.

2. Apparatus forreturning feed back into the inlet of a bulk feed hopperfrom a trough in which a conveyor member travels to transfer feed fromthe hopper throughout the length of the trough, said apparatuscomprising: a cylindrical compacting element of substantially circularcross section; means for mounting said element within said hopper at itssaid inlet; said means mounting said element for rotation about itslongitudinal axis at a predetermined height above said conveyor member;a plurality of means extending outwardly beyond the surface of saidcompacting element for engaging said traveling conveyor member anddriving said element in a rotary manner; said element rolling againstand compacting feed above said predetermined height which is beingreturned to said hopper in said trough; said extending means moving thecompacted feed upward into said hopper as it rotates; a rigid,stationary blade structure extending from the upstream end of saidtrough toward the upper portions of said compacting element and inalignment therewith for dislodging compacted feed therefrom; andshielding means for preventing said dislodged feed and other feed in thesaid hopper from traveling with the compacting element or otherwiseentering the said trough upstream of said hopper inlet.

3. Apparatus for returning feed back into the inlet of a bulk feedhopper from a trough in which a flat chain conveyor travels to transferfeed from the hopper throughout the length of the trough, said apparatuscomprising: a cylindrical compacting element of substantially circularcross section; means for mounting said element within said hopper at itssaid inlet; said means mounting said element for rotation about itslongitudinal axis at a predetermined height above said conveyor chain; asprocket means attached to said compacting element approximatelycentrally thereof for engaging said conveyor chain and driving saidelement in a rotary manner; said element rolling against and compactingfeed above said predetermined height which is being returned to saidhopper in said trough; said sprocket moving said compacted feed upwardinto said hopper as the sprocket and compacting element are rotated; andmeans effectively shielding the upper and rear portions of saidcompacting element and sprocket means to prevent feed in the hopper fromtraveling with the compacting element and sprocket or otherwise enteringthe said trough upstream of said hopper inlet.

4. Apparatus for returning feed back into the inlet of a bulk fwd hopperfrom a trough in which a flat chain conveyor travels to transfer feedfrom the hopper throughout the length of the trough, said apparatuscomprising: a cylindrical compacting element of substantially circularcross section; means for mounting said element within said hopper at itssaid inlet; said means mounting said element for rotation about itslongitudinal axis at a predetermined height above said conveyor chain; asprocket means attached to said compacting element approximatelycentrally thereof for engaging said conveyor chain and driving saidelement in a rotary manner; said element rolling against and compactingfeed above said predetermined height which is being returned to saidhopper in said trough; said sprocket moving said compacted feed upwardinto said hopper as the sprocket and compacting element are rotated; arigid, stationary blade structure extending from the upstream portion ofsaid trough toward the upper portions of said compacting element and inalignment therewith for dislodging compacted feed therefrom; andshielding means for preventing said dislodged feed and other feed in thesaid hopper from traveling with the compacting element and sprocketmeans or otherwise entering the said trough upstream of said hopperinlet.

5. Apparatus for returning feed back into the inlet of a bulk feedhopper from a trough in which a flat chain conveyor travels to transferfeed from the hopper throughout the length of the trough, said apparatuscomprising: a cylindrical compacting element; means for mounting saidelement within said hopper at its said inlet; said means mounting saidelement for rotation about its longitudinal axis at a predeterminedheight above said conveyor chain; a generally fiat circular flange means[at] secured to each end of said cylindrical compacting element forrotation therewith; said flange means having a diameter greater thanthat of said element and extending radially outwardly beyond same toform a channel structure therebetween; a sprocket means attached to saidcompacting element generally centrally thereof for engaging saidconveyor chain and driving said element in a rotary manner; said elementrolling against and compacting any feed above said predetermined heightwithin said channel structure as the compacting element rotates; saidsprocket moving said compacted feed upward into said hopper as thesprocket and compacting element are rotated; a rigid, stationary bladestructure extending from the upstream portion of said trough toward theupper portions of said compacting element and in alignment therewith fordislodging compacted feed from said channel; and shielding means forpreventing said dislodged feed and other feed in the said hopper fromtraveling with the compacting element and sprocket means or otherwiseentering the said trough upstream of said hopper inlet.

6. A feed hopper for use in automatic feeding equipment in which aconveyor means transfers feed from the outlet of the hopper throughout afeeding trough and returns through the inlet of the hopper for acontinuous supply of feed, said hopper comprising in combination: anenclosure having at least two of its opposite sides arranged to convergetoward each other and closely accommodate said conveyor means as thesame passes therebetween; a cylindrical compacting element ofsubstantially circular cross section rotatably mounted within saidhopper at its inlet; said element being positioned with its axis ofrotation substantially normal to said converging hopper sides andconveyor means and at a predetermined height above the latter; aplurality of means extending outwardly beyond the surface of saidcompacting element for engaging said traveling conveyor means to drivesaid element in a rotary manner; said element rolling against andcompacting feed above said predetermined height which is being returnedto said hopper in said trough; said extending means moving the compactedfeed upward into said hopper as the said means rotate; and an angleplate at the inlet end of the hopper for effectively shielding the upperand rear portions of said compacting element and extending means toprevent feed in the hopper from traveling with the compacting element orotherwise entering the said trough upstream of said hopper inlet.

7. A feed hopper for use in automatic feeding equipment in which a flatchain conveyor transfers feed from the outlet of the hopper throughout afeeding trough and returns through the inlet of the hopper for acontinuous supply of feed, said hopper comprising in combination: anenclosure having at least two of its opposite sides arranged to convergetoward each other and closely accommodate said conveyor as the samepasses therebetween; a cylindrical compacting element of substantiallycircular cross section rotatably mounted within said hopper at itsinlet; said element being positioned with its axis of rotationsubstantially normal to said converging hopper sides and conveyor chainand at a predetermined height above the latter; a sprocket meansattached to said compacting element approximately centrally thereof forengaging said conveyor chain to drive said element in a rotary manner;said element rolling against and compacting feed above saidpredetermined height which is being returned to said hopper in saidtrough; said sprocket moving said compacted feed upward into said hopperas the sprocket and compacting element rotate; a rigid, stationary bladestructure extending from the upstream portion of said hopper toward theupper portions of said compacting element and in alignment therewith fordislodging compacted feed therefrom; and an angle plate at the saidinlet end of the hopper for preventing said dislodged feed and otherfeed in the said hopper from traveling with the compacting element andsprocket means or otherwise entering the conveyor trough upstream ofsaid hopper inlet.

8. A feed hopper for use in automatic feeding equipment in which a fiatchain conveyor transfers feed from the outlet of the hopper throughout afeeding trough and returns through the inlet of the hopper for acontinuous supply of feed, said hopper comprising in combination: anenclosure having at least two of its opposite sides arranged to convergetoward each other and closely accommodate said conveyor as the samepasses therebetween; a cylindrical compacting element rotatably mountedwithin said hopper at its inlet; said element being positioned with itsaxis of rotation substantially normal to said converging hopper sidesand conveyor chain and at a predetermined height above the latter; agenerally flat circular flange means [at] secured to each end of saidcylindrical compacting element; said flange means having a diametergreater than the said element for rotation therewith and extendingradially outwardly beyond same to form a channel structure therebetween;a sprocket means attached to said compacting element generally centrallythereof for engaging said conveyor chain to drive said element in arotary manner; said element rolling against and compacting any feedabove said predetermined height within said channel structure as thecompacting element rotates; said sprocket moving said compacted feedupward into said hopper as the sprocket and compacting element rotate; arigid, stationary blade structure extending from the upstream portion ofsaid hopper toward the upper portions of said compacting element and inalignment therewith for dislodging compacted feed from said channel; andan angle plate at the said inlet end of the hopper for preventing saiddislodged feed and other feed in the said hopper from traveling with thecompacting element and sprocket means or otherwise entering the conveyortrough upstream of said hopper inlet.

9. Apparatus for returning feed back into the inlet of a bulk feedhopper from a trough in which a conveyor member travels to transfer feedfrom the hopper throughout the length of the trough, said apparatuscomprising: a cylindrical compacting element; means for mounting saidelement of substantially circular cross section within said hopper atits said inlet; said means mounting said element for rotation about itslongitudinal axis at a predetermined height above said conveyor member;means for driving said element in a rotary manner; said element rollingagainst and compacting feed above said predetermined height which isbeing returned to said hopper in said trough; said element moving thecompacted feed upward into said hopper as it rotates; and meanseflectively shielding the upper and rear portions of said compactingelement to prevent feed in the hopper from returning to the said troughupstream of said hopper inlet.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which the means for driving said elementengages said traveling conveyor member.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 in which there is provided a rigid,stationary blade structure extending from the upstream end of saidtrough toward the upper portions of the said compacting element and inalignment therewith for dislodging compacted feed therefrom; saidshielding means for preventing said dislodged feed and other feed in thesaid hopper from traveling with the compacting element or otherwiseentering the said trough upstream of said hopper inlet.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 in which the means for driving said elementis a sprocket means located approximately on a plane perpendicular tothe axis of rotation of said element and bisecting the said element.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the means for driving saidelement is a sprocket means located approximately on a planeperpendicular to the axis of rotation of said element and bisecting thesaid element.

14. Apparatus for returning feed back into the inlet of a bulk feedhopper from a trough in which a flat chain conveyor travels to transferfeed from the hopper throughout the length of the trough, said apparatuscomprising: a cylindrical compacting element; means for mounting saidelement within said hopper at its said inlet; said means mounting saidelement for rotation about its longitudinal axis at a predeterminedheight above said conveyor chain; a generally flat circular flange meanssecured to each end of said cylindrical compacting element for rotationtherewith; said flange means having a diameter greater than that of saidelement and extending radially outwardly beyond same to form a channelstructure therebetween; a sprocket means operatively connected to saidcompacting element and driving said element in a rotary manner; saidelement rolling against and compacting any feed above said predeterminedheight within said channel structure as the compacting element rotates;said sprocket means causing said compacting element to more saidcompacted feed upward into said hopper as the sprocket and compactingelement are rotated; a rigid, stationary blade structure extending fromthe upstream portion of said trough toward the upper portions of saidcornpacting element and in alignment therewith for dislodging compactedfeed from said channel; and shielding means for preventing saiddislodged feed and other feed in the said hopper from traveling with thecompacting element and sprocket means or otherwise entering the saidtrough upstream of said ho er inlet.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 in which the means for driving saidelement engages said traveling conveyor member.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 in which the means for driving saidelement is a sprocket means located approximately on a planeperpendicular to the axis of rotation of said element and bisecting thesaid element.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 247,615 9/1881 Coleman 222-414 2,589,690 3/1952Graetz 198-53 2,985,302 5/1961 Brands 119-52 3,058,571 10/1962 Emrickl1952 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner H. S. LANE, Assistant Examiner

